On June 10, Hengli Heavy Industries successfully launched its first 181,000 DWT bulk carrier. This achievement marks China’s first slipway-built bulk carrier of this tonnage class to be successfully launched.
Hengli Heavy Industries’ first 181,000 DWT bulk carrier is classified by the Classification Society Det Norske Veritas (DNV). The vessel is 291.95 meters long, 45 meters wide, 25.1 meters deep, with a designed draft of 16.1 meters and a designed speed of 14.5 knots. The vessel was built on Hengli Heavy Industries’s No. 1 slipway and is currently the largest tonnage vessel that can be built on the slipway worldwide.
Compared with the 82,000 DWT bulk carriers built in batches before, this 181,000 DWT bulk carrier is larger and heavier. During the launching period, Hengli Heavy Industries broke the practice of “building large vessels in the dock”, and through efficient collaboration and lean management, scientifically formulated loading plans, optimized process flows, and ensured high-quality construction and efficient launching of the vessel.
The successful launch of this vessel has accumulated experience for the subsequent construction of large oil tankers and gas carriers. At present, Hengli Heavy Industries’ core production line consisting of ultra-large docks and slipways is running at full capacity, and batch construction and rhythmic delivery of multiple types of vessels have gradually become the norm.